Three-point stack hammock

ABSTRACT

A hammock that provides a plurality of bundled straps to supply strength and tension reducing sag. A hammock assembly that allows a second hammock to act as a sunshade or a rainfly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/459,476 titled “Three-Point Stack Hammock” filed Feb. 15, 2017 to Justin Alexander Locher et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present application relates to hammocks and the construction and use of hammocks.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Some individuals prefer to lounge, either indoors or outdoors, by setting up and laying in hammocks. Hammocks often provide comfort by being positioned away from the ground, suspended in the air. Hammock users will often attempt to provide as much tension in hammocks as necessary to ensure that the hammock's fabric is taut and to reduce droop, otherwise known as “sagging.” Additionally, users may seek methods to protect themselves from the elements of the weather when using a hammock.

According to the present disclosure, a hammock is provided including fabric configured to support a person. The fabric has a plurality of elongated edges. The hammock further includes webbing extending along the plurality of elongated edges and a plurality of tension straps having ends. The elongated edges of the fabric are sandwiched between the ends of the tension straps. The hammock further includes a plurality of anchoring loops. The plurality of tension straps extend through the anchoring loops.

According to the present disclosure, a hammock assembly is provided including a first hammock, a second hammock positioned over the first hammock, and a plurality of anchoring straps coupled to the anchoring loops of the first and second hammocks.

According to the present disclosure, a method for using a hammock assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of providing first and second hammocks and a plurality of anchoring straps, coupling one of the plurality of anchoring straps to the first and second hammocks, coupling another of the plurality of anchoring straps to the first and second hammocks, and anchoring the plurality of anchoring straps to a plurality of anchors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned aspects and many of the intended advantages of this disclosure will grow to be appreciated at a greater level once references to the following accompanying illustrations are expounded upon.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the hammock in an open position, showing two symmetrical, wide angled corners of the hammock and a third, narrow angled corner;

FIG. 2 is a top view of one of the wide angled corners of the hammock of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the narrow angled corner of the hammock of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an bottom view of one of the narrow angled corners of the hammock of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a corner of hammock of FIG. 1 showing the construction of the corners of the hammock of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of two structurally identical hammocks of the present disclosure in a stacked relationship.

Equivalent reference components point to corresponding parts throughout the several views. The drawings depict manifestations of components and attributes to the present disclosure set, and these features are readily scalable. Unless otherwise indicated, the components shown in the drawings are proportional to one another. Wherein, the illustrations depicted are manifestations of the disclosure, and such illustrations shall in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

For the purposes of promoting and understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. It will be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. The disclosure includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrative devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the disclosure which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to the present disclosure, a three-point hammock 10 may be used to keep a person or equipment suspended off of the ground, maintain tension, and/or reduce sag. A user may stack a second hammock 30 on top of first hammock 10 to provide protection of a user or equipment on first hammock 10 from sunlight, rain, and/or other weather elements.

As shown in FIG. 1, first hammock 10 comprises a nylon fabric 12 having three elongated outer edges 14, a plurality of tension straps 16, a plurality of metal anchoring loops 18, and straps or webbing 24 (FIG. 5). Tension straps 16 couple anchoring loops 18 to webbing 24 (FIG. 5) and fabric 12. In one embodiment, webbing 24 (FIG. 5) and tension straps 16 are comprised of nylon webbing to supply strength and stability. In alternate embodiments, webbing and tension straps may comprise of muslin, polyester, burlap, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, hammock 10 includes three corners 34 a, 34 b, 34 c, corners 34 a, 34 b are wider, symmetrical angles while corner 34 c is narrow relative to corners 34 a, 34 b. Elongated outer edge 14 of fabric 12 wraps around webbing 24 to create layers of fabric 12 around webbing 24 (FIG. 5). This configuration of webbing 24 (FIG. 5) provides the structure stability and tension on corners 34 a, 34 b, 34 c of hammock 10. In one embodiment, elongated edges 14 define two long edges 38, intermediate edge 40, and, three short edges 42 found near tension straps 16 and anchoring loops 18. In alternate embodiments, short edges 42 are not included. In the embodiment shown by FIG. 1, hammock 10 is presented in the shape of an isosceles triangle; however, there may exist other embodiments that make use of alternate polygons or circular shapes.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, holes 36 are defined between loops 18 and each of corners 34 a, 34 b, 34 c (FIG. 1) of hammock 10. Holes 36 allow for the runoff of rainwater and debris that fall onto fabric 12 of hammock 10. When hammock 10 is taut and sag is reduced, rain and debris naturally run toward one of the lowest of corners 34 a, 34 b, 34 c (FIG. 1) and then will be funneled into one of holes 36 where water or debris will exit.

Anchoring loop 18 may be comprised of metal, plastic, or other rigid material. In one embodiment, when anchoring loop 18 is being used to support webbing 24 (FIG. 5) and tension straps 16, there remains enough room on the ring to allow the fastening of personal belongings such as backpacks, bags, and other items (not shown) using carabiners or other fasteners (not shown).

As shown by FIG. 5, fabric 12, tension strap 16, and webbing 24 cooperate to define a layered strap 20. Innermost layer 44 of fabric 12 includes the cut edge of fabric 12. Innermost layer 44 wraps around webbing 24 to form first outer layer 46 of fabric 12. First outer layer 46 further wraps around innermost layer 44 to form second outer layer 48 that extends inward to define the support surface of hammock 10. Near corners 34 a, 34 b, 34 c (FIG. 1) of hammock 10, first outer layer 46 and second outer layer 48 are covered by ends 50 of tension strap 16 on both sides, sandwiching fabric layers 44, 46, 48 and webbing 24 therebetween, creating layered strap 20. Tension straps 16 do not cover all of elongated edges 14, but stops at ends 50. Where not covered by ends 50 of tension straps 16, layers 44, 46, 48 of fabric 12 and webbing 24 are stitched together along the remaining length of elongated edges 14 to secure layers 44, 46, 48 together with webbing 24.

A middle portion 52 of tensioning strap 16 is spaced apart from fabric 12 and webbing 24 to form tension strap loop 22. Tension strap loop 22 extends from a topside of fabric 12, as shown in FIG. 3, through anchoring loop 18, as shown in FIG. 5, then loops back around to and underside of fabric 12, as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, second hammock 30 may be stacked on top of original hammock 10. Bottom hammock 10 acts as a typical hammock where the user will lay, while top hammock 30 acts as a sunshade and rainfly to help protect the user and their gear from weather and debris. In one embodiment, second hammock 30 is stacked over original hammock 10 so that they completely overlap one another. In alternate embodiments, second hammock 30 may only partially cover original hammock 10. The user will then be able to climb between hammocks 10, 30 to position himself or herself in original hammock 10 while being at least partially covered by second hammock 30. Because of the user's weight and/or the weight of their gear, original hammock 10 will stretch and have a concavity less than second hammock 30.

Hammocks 10, 30 may be suspended in the air by joining a plurality of anchoring loops 18 with anchoring straps 26, such as ratchet tie down straps, to anchors 32 such as trees, poles, or other suitable anchor points. Straps 26 attached to loop 18 may be adjusted to add or reduce tension through the use of ratchets 28. According to the preferred set up arrangement, a single anchoring strap 26 is used to couple one of a corner 34 a, 34 b, 34 c of each of hammock 10, 30 to a single anchor 32. In other words, a total of three anchoring straps 26 are used to suspend both hammocks 10, 30 to a total of three anchors 32 with one anchoring strap 26 supporting each corner 34 a, 34 b, 34 c of two hammocks 10, 30.

To suspend hammocks 10, 30, respective corners 34 a, 34 b, 34 c of each hammock 10, 30 are aligned, an anchoring strap 26 is attached to each of the two anchor loops 18 of respective aligned corners 34 a, 34 b, 34 c, and each of the three anchoring straps 26 are each secured to each of three anchors 32. During or after the securing of anchoring straps 26 to anchors 32, straps 26 are tensioned through the use of ratchet 28 to apply tension to hammocks 10, 30 sufficient to suspend hammocks 10, 30 from the ground, floor, etc. until a desired tension is achieved. Such tension may be enough to make hammocks 10, 30 substantially flat. When anchoring straps 26 are attached to each of the two aligned anchoring loops 18, the respective loops 18 (and hammocks 10, 30) are coupled together so that hammocks 10, 30 are coupled together at respective corners 34 a, 34 b, 34 c. Preferably, hammocks 10, 30 are structurally identical (same size, materials, construction, etc.).

The disclosure is not restricted to the described embodiments and figures, but may be varied freely within the scope of the claims. The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms, and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the forgoing specification, as indicating the scope of the disclosure. Modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described in the embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hammock including fabric configured to support a person, the fabric having a plurality of elongated edges, webbing extending along the plurality of elongated edges, a plurality of tension straps having ends, the elongated edges of the fabric being sandwiched between the ends of the tension straps, and a plurality of anchoring loops, the plurality of tension straps extending through the anchoring loops.
 2. The hammock of claim 1, wherein the anchoring loops are circular.
 3. The hammock of claim 1, wherein the webbing of the elongated edges is sandwiched between the fabric.
 4. The hammock of claim 1, wherein the tension straps form a loop.
 5. The hammock of claim 1, wherein the ends of the tension straps are stitched together.
 6. The hammock of claim 1, wherein the anchoring loops and corners of the fabric cooperate to define holes.
 7. A hammock assembly including a first hammock, a second hammock positioned over the first hammock, and a plurality of anchoring straps coupled to the anchoring loops of the first and second hammocks.
 8. The hammock assembly of claim 7, wherein the first hammock is structurally identical to the second hammock.
 9. The hammock assembly of claim 7, wherein the second hammock overlaps the first hammock.
 10. The hammock assembly of claim 7, wherein the anchoring loops of the first and second hammocks overlap.
 11. The hammock assembly of claim 7, wherein the hammocks are adjacent to one another.
 12. The hammock assembly of claim 7, wherein the concavity of the first hammock differs substantially from the concavity of the second hammock.
 13. The hammock assembly of claim 12, wherein the concavity of the first hammock is less than the concavity of the second hammock and the first hammock is positioned below the second hammock.
 14. A method for using a hammock assembly, the method including the steps of providing first and second hammocks and a plurality of anchoring straps, coupling one of the plurality of anchoring straps to the first and second hammocks, coupling another of the plurality of anchoring straps to the first and second hammocks, and anchoring the plurality of anchoring straps to a plurality of anchors.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of coupling another of to plurality of anchoring straps to the first and second hammocks.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein anchors are trees.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of positioning the first hammock below the second hammock.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of laying on the first hammock so that the concavity of the first hammock is substantially less than the concavity of the second hammock. 